2.8.1

Chapter 8: Key Events

Test yourself

Key Events in Chapter 8: Robbie's Letter to Cecilia

Robbie prepares for dinner at the Tallis house while brooding over the scene by the fountain earlier that day.

Illustrative background for Robbie's letter to Cecilia Illustrative background for Robbie's letter to Cecilia  ?? "content

Robbie's letter to Cecilia

  • Robbie types a letter to Cecilia, apologising for his behaviour and admitting to feelings for her. But he spoils the ending by adding an obscenity.
  • He writes out a new letter and leaves for his engagement. On route, he gives the letter to Briony before realising, in horror, he has given her the obscene draft.
Illustrative background for Robbie and Cecilia's historyIllustrative background for Robbie and Cecilia's history ?? "content

Robbie and Cecilia's history

  • Robbie and Cecilia have known each other since they were both children and they attended the same university (Cambridge). Despite this, their relationship has grown more distant and complicated as they have grown older.
Illustrative background for Quotation: Cecilia's awkwardnessIllustrative background for Quotation: Cecilia's awkwardness ?? "content

Quotation: Cecilia's awkwardness

  • “Occasionally, they passed in the street and smiled. She always seemed to find it awkward – That’s our cleaning lady’s son, she might have been whispering to her friends as she walked on” (p79).
  • Later in the same paragraph, Robbie professes that he “doesn’t care” about the differences in social class which exist between him and Cecilia, but he is clearly aware that it “might” lie at the root of her feeling “awkward”.
Illustrative background for Struggling to interpret emotionsIllustrative background for Struggling to interpret emotions ?? "content

Struggling to interpret emotions

  • There is the sense of two young adults struggling to interpret their emotions.
  • Robbie blames Cecilia for this awkwardness/tension. But his behaviour later in the chapter shows his own confusion and perhaps reveals his own barely suppressed desires.
  • The references to Sigmund Freud (the founder of psychoanalysis) in this chapter are perhaps meant as hints that Robbie’s delivering the obscene version of the letter is due to his subconscious desire to make his feelings known to Cecilia.

Jump to other topics

1Introduction to Atonement

2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One

3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two

4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three

5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four

5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371

6Key Character Profiles

7Key Themes

8Writing Techniques

9Context

10Critical Debates

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